Z ARCHIVE D3 - Hwy 169 Redefine - Elk River freeway: 2022-2024 construction
 Hwy 169 and 197th Ave. work zone
Be prepared to stop on 169 overnight Thurs, Aug. 25
Motorists should be prepared to stop and wait up to 15 minutes on both directions of Hwy 169 near 197th Ave. between 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 and 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26, as crews deliver and place bridge beams for the future 197th Ave. bridge over Hwy 169.
State Patrol will enforce the traffic short-term closures. Watch for road signs, flashing lights and law enforcement, and be prepared to to slow down and stop.
Each bridge beam, also known as a girder, will be delivered by semi-truck and hoisted by crane onto the bridge abutments. Each one weighs 80,000 lbs. and is 102 ft. long by 40 in. high and were manufactured in Elk River.
 Above: Prior concrete work on the 197th Ave. bridge abutment. Photo by MnDOT Chief Field Inspector Chad Dassinger.
Overall, Hwy 169 remains one lane in each direction and 197th Ave. remains closed to/from Hwy 169.
In mid-September, Hwy 169 will detour overnight to pour the concrete 197th Ave. bridge deck. When the bridge opens in late October, it will be one traffic lane in each direction with shoulders and an 8 ft. sidewalk along the south side.
 Above: Crews smoothen the newly poured concrete surface.
New deck surface was a success
Crews poured the new concrete deck on the future northbound Hwy 101/169 bridge over Hwy 10 the night of Aug. 16. MnDOT Chief Field Inspector Chad Dassinger took a few awesome pictures to share with us.
 Above: Lights illuminate the work site as concrete is delivered in mixer trucks below and pumped up onto the bridge deck.
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Left: The concrete materials were tested by a materials inspector prior to pouring segments of the bridge deck.
The test checks air content of the fresh concrete. Approximately six percent of the concrete mixture consists of air voids, which provide durability to the concrete.
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Above: The deck is covered with wet burlap and plastic and ready to cure as the sun rises the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 17. It will take approximately seven days to cure after which the remaining items such as concrete barrier, striping and lighting will be added.
Hwy 10 shifts but remains one-lane traffic
Also this week, the westbound lane on Hwy 10 will shift to the eastbound side to allow crews access to reconstruct other areas of the Hwy 10/101/169 interchange. The shift will happen overnight and motorists will not be affected by this change as Hwy 10 will remain one lane in each direction through the work zone. The traffic switch is scheduled from 7 p.m. Friday, Aug 26 to 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug 27.
Note: Like all construction work, the schedule is tentative and subject to change due to materials, contractor or weather. Check 511mn.org for latest road conditions.
Afraid to say it, but yes, soon it will be Labor Day weekend
If you travel on Hwy 10, 101 and 169 in Elk River, please slow down and focus on safety as you navigate through the reduced single-lane work zones, especially at peak travel times as traffic will be stop-and-go, including this upcoming Labor Day weekend Sept. 2-5.
Hwy 10 in Anoka is also a single-lane work zone, so plan accordingly.
For up-to-date traffic and road conditions through Elk River, visit 511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.
More about this 169 Redefine project
When the freeway is complete in 2024, the project will improve traffic flow, increase capacity and reduce bottle necks, and improve motorist and pedestrian safety along three miles of Hwy 169 in Elk River, Sherburne County.
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